Minim Invas Neurosur
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Minim Invas Neurosur · Dec 1996
Biportal neuroendoscopic microsurgical approaches to the subarachnoid cisterns. A cadaver study.
A preclinical cadaver study was performed to develop the technique of biportal neuroendoscopic dissection in the subarachnoid space of the basal cisterns and to test the feasibility, utility, and safety of this new technique. In 23 fresh post-mortem adult human cadavers and 2 formalin-fixed adult human head specimen a total of 33 biportal endomicrosurgical dissections into and within the basal cisterns were carried out. Following suction of cerebrospinal fluid from the subarachnoid space 0 degree-, 30 degrees-, and 70 degrees-lens-scopes (Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen, Germany) with outer diameters of 4.2 mm and trochars with outer diameters of 5 to 6.5 mm were introduced into the surgical field. 6 different endoscopic routes to the basal cisterns and a total of 10 different combinations of these approaches for biportal endoneurosurgery could be described, but it was found that not all of them were useful and safe. ⋯ A variety of microsurgical instruments has been tested. A number of these will have to be redesigned for this new technique. Regions suitable for biportal neuroendoscopic subarachnoid preparations are the olfactory groove, the prechiasmatic cistern, the region of the optic chiasm, the entire suprasellar area, parts of the parasellar area, the pre- and perimesencephalic cisterns, and the prepontine cistern.